Rationality in systems engineering: Beyond calculation or political action

  • Authors:

  • Don P. Clausing;Konstantinos V. Katsikopoulos

  • Affiliations:

  • (Retired) Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139;Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139 and Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Center for Adaptive Behavior and Cognition, Lenzteallee 94, 1419 ...

  • Venue:
  • Systems Engineering
  • Year:
  • 2008

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Abstract

This paper is written in favor of rationality in systems engineering. Operational rationality is the foundation for the improvement of quality, cost, and delivery (QCD) that leads to continued success in the market place. On both sides of operational rationality lie pitfalls that plague most systems-engineering decision making. On one side lies hand waving and political action. On the opposite side lies mathematical certainty, very enticing to the educated mind, but lacking in broad decision-making capability. In this paper we set forth the principles of operational rationality in systems engineering. These principles guide the evaluation, improvement, and development of systems-engineering practices and methods. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng